We've Asked The Pros: What Are The Best GIFs Of All Time?

Apparently, we have all been pronouncing "GIFs" incorrectly, which is something that GIF-inventor Steve Wilhite likes to remind us of, over and over again. The problem with this is, of course, "jif" sounds horrible, and like a mass-market peanut-butter product. We don't say "jift," we say "gift;" we don't want to eat "jifilte fish" over Passover, but "gefilte." Maybe it is time to admit that the power of the hard "g" in GIF has surpassed the creator's intent. And perhaps, this is the death of the author Roland Barthes has been talking about.

To celebrate the emotional power of the GIF, we've asked some true internet jockeys, those of us who have dug deep to find the best three-second emotional experience they can find, to share with us.

"It's Fred Durst on a razor scooter. I don't think I need to justify why I love this so much. I actually made this one myself from the 'Faith' video because I was surprised as the dearth of Durst GIFs out here." —

"I like this because not only is the dog very cool, but he's very helpful. I imagine that it would be a great trick to teach your dog to mow the lawn."

"The truth is that I can't pick my absolute favorites of all time. It's like choosing between children, and they're all beautiful prodigies. This one I like because it's mysterious. I found it somewhere during the London Olympics, so I think it might be an Olympic soccer player (footballer). I have no idea really. I like the expression on her face. Sometimes I make it back at her on the screen."

"This is good for a laugh. Kennedy/McNamara doing the A Night at the Roxbury thing. C'mon. Speaks for itself. I've had that on my hard drive for years."

"Like all of the best GIFs, this one was made by my friend and colleague Rich Juzwiak. Judging by the file name he gave it (momma_dee.gif), I'm guessing this is a woman named Dee who is also a mother. I'm not sure which reality show it's clipped from, which I love because it makes it seem like stock footage — a woman sipping red wine through a straw on a television program that looks real-ish, but actually doesn't exist. A good way to respond to someone else's comment without really saying anything."

"This is the perfect GIF to use any time a friend receives an accolade or promotion."

"Super embarrassing GIF of me at the club. I didn't even have time to do my hair or makeup or anything. Whatever, I guess that's just how I look!"

"The first one is known as The Stop Girl. It's from a video taken at some college sports game, where a cute girl says "stop!" to the cameraman filming her. It's not so much the GIF itself that I love, but the fact that there's a popular subreddit dedicated exclusively to this one GIF: http://www.reddit.com/r/thestopgirl. Every single post in this sub links to the same GIF, but with a different caption:
'When I see people texting while driving...' STOP!
'When I see people putting ketchup on their steak...' STOP!
'When I realize people are still submitting to this subreddit.' STOP!

"Another fave is one my colleague just sent me. It's a kid dancing in front of a banana shaped like a dolphin, and I like it because REASONS."

Lastly, our R29 special mentions:

"You know that scene in American Beauty where the kid describes seeing so much beauty in a plastic bag that he simple cannot bear it? That's what's going on here."

"

"After a lot of debate, there is nothing more simple than this 'drop-mic' dog moment. It's a great way of saying, 'Look guys. I'm out.' Bam."

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